El Refolo
Price guide: Budget
Via Garibaldi, Castello 1580, Venice
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#20 of 40
expert-rated restaurants in Venice- Recommended for:
- Backpackers / Students, Couples, Singles, Live entertainment, Nightlife, Relaxation
Expert review of El Refolo
This tiny winebar in the eastern suburbs is packed and boisterous during the Biennale.
Many visitors to Venice don’t make it much further east than the Arsenale and that, for me, means they’re missing out on some of the most authentic, lived-in parts of the city. The wide sweep of Via Garibaldi is a good place to experience real Venetians going about their business – buying fruit and veg at the morning street market or from the boat-shop at the eastern end of the street, taking their children to play in the Giardini (gardens) and stopping for a drink and a bite to eat in friendly winebars like El Refolo. Jovial Massimiliano presides over this hole-in-the-wall winebar and eatery where guests will happily queue to bag a stool or a table on the pavement outside.
Food and drink:
You can stop by just for a drink. But there are some great sandwiches and filled rolls, and a very small and ever-changing selection of pasta dishes to keep customers’ hunger at bay as they sip a glass of wine or savour beer from Italian micro-breweries. This close to the Biennale exhibition spaces, it’s only natural that the place is heaving during the late summer when there are also delicious creative mixed salads.
Ambience:
Friendly, laid back and humming with conversation, El Refolo offers live music out on via Garibaldi most Fridays in May, June, September and October, and a loud jazz sound track many other evenings. There are lots of locals, some adventurous tourists and crowds of Biennale-going luvvies when art or architecture shows are on. Note that, as most of El Refolo’s activities take place outside (inside there’s little more than a counter for ordering food and drink), opening times and events depend heavily on the weather.
Service:
Affable.
Location:
On the wide Via Garibaldi in the eastern Castello district, with tables outside to watch the locals going about their business. Don’t confuse this winebar with Il Refolo near Campo San Giacomo dall’Orio, the gourmet pizza offshoot of Michelin-starred Da Fiore (see [node: 167822]).
Price advice:
The food at El Refolo is very snacky and prices depend entirely on how much you consume. This is a great place for an inexpensive snack.
More information on El Refolo:
- Price guide:
- Type:
- Bar, Café, Wine bar
- Food:
- Italian
- Address:
- Via Garibaldi, Castello 1580, Venice
- Serves:
- Brunch, Lunch, Dinner
- Opening times:
- During the art or architecture Biennale: 10.30am to 12.30am. Closed Mon. Stays open as long as there are customers Fri-Sun. Other times of year: 5.30pm-12.30am. Closed Mon. Stays open later on Fri-Sun in mid-season.
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Reservations:
- Not possible
- Free tags / Keywords:
- Al fresco, Cheap eats, Quick bites
